The Haría Council has requested a meeting with other municipalities on Lanzarote to discuss scheduling sports events that take place on Saturdays, which often necessitate road closures.
The northern council believes that many of these prestigious events significantly impact traffic and local activities and require re-evaluation of their timing and routes to lessen disruptions.
In Haría, road closures on Saturdays directly affect the Haría Artesanal market, a long-standing initiative that supports local commerce and draws visitors. This market has been awarded the Haría Prize for its role in preserving tradition and promoting local products.
Mayor Alfredo Villalba emphasised the need for dialogue between authorities, stating, “We don’t question the importance of these sporting events, but we must find ways to balance their occurrence with our towns’ activities.” He noted that the road closures disrupt access, which complicates mobility for residents and the market’s operations.
The council believes that pre-planning between the Cabildo and municipalities could help assess the effects of each event and explore alternatives regarding dates, routes, or organisational measures to reduce the impact on transport and local cultural and social activities.
